NASA cloud tech empowers private mission planners
The company traces its roots to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where co-founder Loic Chappaz began as an intern focused on trajectory dynamics for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test. There he crossed paths with Leon Alkalai, a seasoned mission planner and JPL technical fellow. After retiring, Alkalai launched Mandala Space Ventures, a startup incubator pursuing new commercial space opportunities. Chappaz joined Mandala as its first hire, and together they began reimagining the very process of space mission planning.
Armed with decades of experience and awareness of NASA's internal resources, the Mandala team turned to JPL's software assets. By licensing several mission-planning tools, they began shaping a flexible platform capable of supporting a wide variety of orbital initiatives. Mandala later transitioned into a venture firm, and in 2021, Continuum was officially spun out to continue refining and deploying the software independently.
Today, Continuum's modular platform enables end-to-end mission development, divided into three key phases: design, build and test, and mission operations. The system is built on a foundation of NASA-developed software components. As of 2024, numerous space-focused startups-and even major satellite operators-have adopted Continuum's tools to plan and execute their orbital goals. The company stands as a prime example of how NASA's technological legacy continues to underpin innovation across the private space sector.
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